Page 43 of Savage Bosses

I turn around to face him. “I need to swing by the florist to approve the final arrangements and then…”

“Hello, Tiff,” A voice I’ve known since I was a Junior in high school calls out from my right. I turn to find Marcus standing there with a handful of roses.

My breath catches in my throat. He’s still attractive to me. That milk brown skin, low fade, slight beard, and those sultry brown eyes. However, the effect he once had on me is nowhere in sight.

“Marcus, how are you?”

He smiles, stepping toward me. “I’m good, now that I’m seeing you.”

I don’t know how to respond to that. Instead, I push my wild curly hair out my face. The braids are gone, and my hair is in its natural state.

“How’ve you been?” I ask just to fill the awkward silence.

He looks away before placing his gaze back on me. “Good. I finished my program for gambling. I even got a job.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, I work down at that car factory. The pay is good,” he chuckles running his free hand over his waves. “Not like the NBA, but it puts food on the table. I’m even volunteering at the youth center to coach basketball.”

I smile at that. I’ve told him countless times he should have looked into coaching kids.

“That’s great, Marcus. I’m happy for you.” And I truly was. I spent years with this man and despite the bullshit he put me through, I wished him nothing but the best.

“So, you’re getting married?”

My face must show my confusion because he chuckles.

“It’s hard to miss that big ass rock on your finger.” I look down at my engagement ring and smile.

“Yeah, I’m getting married.”

“Who’s the lucky man?”

I nervously look away before turning back to him. “Mr. Basille.”

“Your Boss?” his brows shoot to his hairline.

“Yeah.” This time I don’t explain to him that technically Nico isn’t my boss.

He bobs his head up and down as if I asked him a question. “I thought you told me there was nothing to worry about.”

I understand his confusion. At the time, he didn’t have anything to worry about between me and Nico, but that changed.

“Marcus,”

He holds up a hand to stop me. “Don’t. I didn’t come to get you upset. I was wondering if you and I could go somewhere to talk.”

Talk? What did we have to talk about? “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“What? Your man won’t let you talk to me even though he practically snatched you from me.”

Shaking my head, I take a step back. “Don’t do this. Please, lets just end as friends.”

He holds his arms out at his side. “What do you think I’m doing here? I promised that once I got my life together, I would come back for you. I’m man enough to see that I’m too late. Unlike your bitch ass fiancé, I’ll step back. I just want closure, Tiff. After damn near ten years, don’t you think I deserve that?”

Guilt eats at me. It’s not like he’s asking for a lot. He just wants to talk. Hopefully, he knows that I’m not leaving Nico for him. That ship has sailed and is at the bottom of the ocean with the Titanic. However, it’s a good idea to truly end this chapter in my life.

“Okay,” I say with a deep exhale.

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